On this day in 1775, Patrick Henry delivered the most famous speech ever given on American soil. It was his immortal “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death” speech. He gave the speech to the Virginia House of Burgess in Richmond. The question before the delegation was whether the Colony of Virginia would join the fight for independence from Great Britain.

Toward the beginning of his powerful presentation, Patrick Henry said,

“Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

“For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth--to know the worst and to provide for it.”

Indeed, awakening people to “the whole truth” is in large part what must take place before any people can be sufficiently motivated to fight for liberty. And that is not nearly as easy as it sounds. Truth can often be as Henry describes it: “painful.”

It is very painful to wake up and realize that the vast majority of what our government tells us is false. It is very painful to wake up and realize that the vast majority of what our national news media tells us is false. It is very painful to wake up and realize that what the vast majority of our pastors and preachers tell us is false.

It is very painful to wake up and realize that the United States has not fought a constitutional war since World War II. It is very painful to wake up and realize that the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are the aggressor states in the Middle East, NOT Russia, Iran, and Syria. It is very painful to wake up and realize that much, if not most, of our country’s military endeavors have almost nothing to do with protecting the lives, security, and property of the people of the United States, but have almost everything to do with protecting and expanding the financial interests of the global/corporate/banking elite.

And it is very painful to wake up and realize that most of the so-called crises in both domestic and international affairs are completely manufactured and concocted by the very same government that comes charging in on a white horse to ostensibly solve the crises. Let me say it plainly: our federal government spends trillions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of American lives fighting wars, conflicts, terrorism, and crises OF ITS OWN MAKING.